Born Euston, the son of poor Jewish immigrant tailors. He attended the North London Polytechnic School 1931-3 and later won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music to study violin. Within four years he was playing for the London Symphony Orchestra, at 20 years old, one of its youngest players. Married in March 1940 and called up in July. He was keen to fight the Nazis but his eyesight was very poor so he had to cheat to be allowed to join a fighting regiment, which he did.
But 1943 he was posted to East Africa and was put in charge of the infantry training school at Mogadishu training men to go to Burma and fight under Orde Wingate. In December 1944 he was present when 3 men were removing fireworks from a hut in preparation for New Year celebrations. For unexplained reasons the fireworks in the hut exploded. Latutin went into the blaze twice rescuing 2 of the men but was held back from going in a third time. He died two days later from his injuries.
Posthumously awarded the George Cross.
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